The Big Day is almost here. We will gather together in fellowship and celebration of who we are. Hope reigns supreme this time of year.

One of my favorite Christmas movies is entitled A Christmas Tale. It is a French movie. The flick’s depiction of a family and how they interact with each other is real. The sister in the movie has disowned her older brother and, after paying off his debt, asks him to commit to never speaking to her again. The matriarch of the family has bone cancer and needs a bone marrow transfusion from one of her relatives. The recalcitrant daughter has a son with schizophrenia. A younger brother has married a woman the two brothers and cousin decided was best for him and thus the cousin withdrew his pursuit of the lovely woman. The patriarch loves jazz and runs a dye factory. The older brother and the grandson are matches for the bone marrow transfusion.

Amid family strife is love and acceptance and a great Christmas Play. A revelation by the woman who was bartered for the brother who needed her more according to the committee…that the Vuliard Cousin has always loved her and has been miserable since the day he could not be with her. A Christmas Eve Mass where Mother and the shunned son she has never cared for attend. In other words…real life…

We love White Christmas and Bing Crosby’s crooning. Most of us do not fit the Vanilla Mold. Disagreements happen and walls are built. We are separated and have forgotten the reason why…

Mythic mystic mysterious qualities dwell with us at Christmas. We seek acceptance for who we are. Our short lives are marked by occurrences we did not see coming that have lasting effects.

We Do Not Fit The Mold People will gather around the Holiday Table. Love in our own way. Accept those who are different than us. Glad for our diverse journey following the Star. The Baby lay in the Manger. He accepts. He is love and light. Everyone has a place at the table. Unique in our foibles and hurts we look for kind eyes. We search for new beginnings. We hope for a Christmas miracle.

‘So it is Christmas and what have we done another year over and a new one has just begun…’ Soon we will sing these poignant words. Our truth follows us like a shadow. Many days we have enjoyed some we have endured some we have wiled away like the grasshopper watching the ant working. Now the ledgers are being dusted off. The pencils sharpened the calculations written erased and rewritten. I like pencils. They have erasers, which are a good thing.

We sons and daughters of Earth make mistakes. Our best intentions are foiled by folly. We set sail in the morning with clear skies and smooth waters only to encounter rough seas by sunset.

Silent Night, Holy Night, we sing. Our hearts are full of the love and hope of the season. Everything is possible as the shepherds follow the star. The hope of mankind has come. The Prince of Peace. There was no room in the Inn. A stable was his first home, and animals were his roommates.

Life has not changed. There are taxes to pay and governments to please. Parochial Partisan leaders issue edicts from their lofty perch. Their power is endless. Perhaps they will not die. Are they the second coming of Christ…

The Babe looks meek and mild. Not a thought of hate in his heart. He comes in love from his Dad who is love. The Wisemen understand the difference. Not a moneymaker a peacemaker…

Dark-skinned people stood before the Baby in the manger. His skin was dark…Mediterranean. The United States did not exist. There was no America for Americans to talk about.

‘What a wonderful smell,’ Billy B said with delight. ‘The cigar reminds me of my first boss at SIU a cigar smoker…Jim,’ Billy B continued. ‘I could always smell him before I saw him,’ Billy B laughed.

‘Sit down and visit with your foreman…I am your boss you can sit a minute when your boss requests it,’ Jim smiled… ‘I have been waiting for you,’ Jim winked.

‘Look all the way in the back in the corner…it is Dad,’ Chet gestured with a wide grin. ‘He is smoking his favorite Charles Denby Cigars and has a glass of rye whiskey in front of him,’ Chet observed wonderfully. ‘Dad has been gone a long time,’ Chet whispered.

‘It is relaxing here…with the giant ashtrays and low light,’ Humphrey said. Lauren will be here soon. I have ordered her a Dirty Martini,’ Humphrey noted with satisfaction. Sometimes she brings Jason with her…we are an all-in-the-family group at the Cigar Bar,’ Humphrey laughed dryly.

‘I used to say ask not what your country can do for you but rather…what the heck…there is Marylin,’ JFK said. ‘I’ll be damned she has Frank Sammy Dean and Joey with her,’ JFK smiled his toothy grin. ‘Well…we stopped Russia in the 60s but this is a different time with weak leaders,’ JFK mused as he poured Marylin a Scotch.

‘Drinks for the House and Cohibas for all,’ Fidel announced as he walked in. ‘Mr. President may I join your entourage,’ Fidel asked with a long Cohiba protruding from his lips. ‘It has been too long…where is Jackie,’ Fidel asked? ‘We must discuss the present distress before it is too late,’ Fidel proclaimed.

‘Ari O is sitting in the corner waiting for her I think,’ he waved when I came in,’ JFK answered. ‘Ari is a Prick and a womanizer…never the less I believe in keeping secrets,’ JFK smiled. ‘Fidel…we must aid in discovering peace before it is too late,’ JFK mused as he took a long draw from his Cohiba…

‘Ho…Ho…Ho…Merry Christmas,’ Santa said with a dimple on his cheek and smoke circling his head like a wreath. ‘I did not know you enjoyed Cigars Billy B,’ Santa said. ‘Jonathon told me that he was going to bring you to the Cigar Bar…please join me and Donald in our Christmas discussions,’ Santa Clause said with a wink.

‘Do I really have to write this 1 million times…’I have been naughty, not nice,’ Donald asked?